Bird Watching Tour

From Arabian Sea in South to Khunjerab Pass in North, Pakistan offer unique birds variety which is the Specialties of their particular region. 

Birds sites near Karachi include Cape Monze (white tailed Lapwing, Sooty Gull, Variable Wheatear), Korangi Greek (shore birds including Great Knot) Birds sites near Islamabad include Rawal Lake to the southeast of the city (Cinnamon Bittern (April to September) on north side, Great Thick-knee and Small Pratincole at the eastern end) and the Maragalla Hill on the northern edge of the city. The vegetated ravines and remnant pine forest here support Kalij Phesant, Blue throated Barbet, Indian Pitta (May to September), Chestnut Thrush (November to March), Golden Bush-Robin, Variegated Laughinthrush, Black-chinned Babbler, Rufous-breasted (November to March), and Black-throated (November to March), Accentors and Chestnut-breasted Bunting.
Bird’s sites in Murree include Nathiagali National Park. The old hill station situated at 2291m 60km northeast of Islamabad, support a few west Himalayan specialities including Black-headed Jay and Black-and-yellow Grosbeak. The birds we watch during our recent trip includes Great Barbet, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Himalayan Woodpecker, Gold-billed Magpie, Black-headed Jay, Raven, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Black-crested Tit, Green-backed Tit, Black-throated Tit, Asian House-Martin, Variegated Laughingthrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Blue-headed Redstart, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin and Russet Sparrow.
Palas Valley - The temperate forest in this high valley supports around 325 pairs of the very rare and beautiful Western Tragopan, along with a number of other west Himalayan specialties such as Black-headed Jay, Tytler's Leaf-Warbler, Orange Bullfinch, and Black and yellow Grosbeak. Seeing these birds and the many others involve obtaining a permit in advance and organizing a camping trek which at lasts at least ten days during May, when the cat-like call of the tragopan can be heard at dawn. Many of the birds listed are only present during the summer (May till September).
Other birds watching sites includes Northwest Frontier Province, where black-throated Accentor has been recorded in winter at the 2700m Lowari Pass. The 805 km long Karakoram Highway, Neelam Valley, Kaghan Valley enables access to some superb birding sites.
We also run a program called Indus Boating (December till Feb) during this journey you will see the ancient civilian lives, historical sights and old villages. Besides all these attractions river Indus during winter is a naturally protected sanctuary for migrating birds like Cormorants, Shags, Egrets, Herons, Geese, Ducks, Vultures, Kites, Eagles, Bustard - Quails, Cranes, Terns, Kingfishers, Blue Indian Rullers, Woodpeckers, and other important feature are Turtles and one and only one in the World and main the attraction of this journey is the blind Indus Dolphin.

	Itinerary
Days	Programs
01	Arrival in Rawalpindi, checks in hotel. Afternoon city tour (in case of morning arrival).
02	Early morning trip of Margalla hills to see Goral, Barking Deer, Kalij Pheasant and other birds. Trip to Faisal Mosque. After lunch trip to Taxila and bird watching, evening back to hotel.
03	Check out of hotel, visit Shakarparian, Islamabad and Lok Virsa Museum, and drive to Murree, bird watching on the way. Check in hotel. Lunch. After lunch trip to Bhurban
04	Early morning drive to Dunga Gali. Bird watching on pipeline trek. After lunch bird watching on Mushkpuri Hill (2970 meters) Evening at Nathiagali, after dinner flying Squirrel watching and back to hotel.
05	Check out from hotel and drive to Abbottabad, on the way birding. After lunch drive to Besham. Overnight at Besham.
06	Drive along KKH to Gilgit. On the way visit to Shatial land Chilas to see rock carvings. Check in at Gilgit.
07	Trip to Naltar Lake. Trout fishing and look out for Markhors on vertical cliff.
08	Drive to Phandar Lake, while birding on the way.
09	Full day trout fishing and birding.
10	Drive back to Gilgit.
11	Drive to Gulmit. Overnight stay.
12	Trip to Khunjerab Pass 4848 meters. Marco-Polo sheep likely to be seen. Golden Eagles, Alpine Choughs and Marmots are common. On way back visit to Batura Glacier to see marmots, eagles, pikas etc. Overnight at Karimabad.
13	Drive to Skardu (6 hours), on way birding and stopping over at Kachura Lake. Overnight at Skardu.
14	Trip to Shyoke river valley and overnight at Khaplu.
15	Drive to Skardu for overnight stay.
16	Drive to Satpara lake enroute to Deosai plains, 4242 meters. Brown Bears are likely to be seen apart from Golden Eagles and several other high altitude species. Overnight camp site.
17	Bird watching.
18	Drive to Skardu.
19	Flight to Rawalpindi.
20	Flight (homewards).

For more details please visit :- www.karakorumexp.com